Title: Effects of founder gender and workplace romance status on recruits’ evaluations of early-stage ventures

Author (s):: Batra S.; Gupta V.K.; Kumar V.; Pierce C.A.

Journal: Journal of Small Business Management

Month and Year: April 2023

Abstract: We conduct a mixed-method, multi-study investigation using a role congruity theory framework to examine prospective employees’ attitudes toward working for male- and female-led ventures. Results using data collected from business students, alumni, and executives in India reveal three insights: (1) prospective employees report similar evaluations for male- and female-led ventures under normal circumstances but evaluate female-led ventures more favorably than male-led ventures when the entrepreneur has a hierarchical workplace romance; (2) favorable attitudes toward female-led rather than male-led ventures when the entrepreneur is engaged in a hierarchical workplace romance are motivated by benevolent sexism; and (3) although respondents report a higher inclination to work for ventures without (vs with) a policy prohibiting workplace romance, the decline in willingness to work for an entrepreneur engaged in a workplace romance is higher for female- than male-led ventures. We discuss implications and directions for future research. © 2023 International Council for Small Business.

Document Type: Article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2023.2197028